World War One Allied Medals and Artifacts
The initial powers of the “Triple Entente” were France, Great Britain, and The Russian Empire. However, by the war's end, many more nations such as Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, and Italy had joined that list, and helped bring The Great War to a conclusion; but how long would peace truly last? Within this file are various medals and other military artifacts associated with allied soldiers of the First World War. These range from a British Merchant Marine medal with the photo of the recipient, to a French Battle of Verdun service Medal, and a named British Constabulary Medal.
Medal Name: Battle of Verdun Service Medal
Date: Feb. 1916 - Dec. 1916
Country of Origin: French Republic
Note: On the front of the medal is inscribed the rallying cry of the French defenders of the city, first said by General Robert Nivelle, “Ils ne Passeront pas!” or in english, “They shall not pass!”. The battle ended with a french victory, but the nearly three quarters of a millions lives lost between the two sides present, making this battle one of the most bloody in human history.
Medal Name: British Great War Victory Medal
Date: 1914-1918
Country Of Origin: United Kingdom
Note: The First World War holds particular significance to the people of England, and it is seen both with awesome reverence, and somber remembrance of those who fell defending their country. This particular medal was assigned to Private E.P Ingram, however, there are two such soldier with that name, who all happen to have identical service numbers, but two very different stories. A future post will tell their respective stories, but for a hint, one joined in 1916 and survived the war, and the other was released in 1919 after being captured by the germans.
Medal Name: American World War 1 Victory Medal
Date: 1917-1918
Country of Origin: United States
Note: The United States made its isolation from European conflicts abundantly clear in 1914, and President Woodrow Willson tried to both abide by the fervent belief in non involvement in conflicts abroad, and sent intermittent aid to countries such as Great Britain and France. Initial incidents such as Unrestricted U-boat Warfare targeting any shipping around the English Isles strained the neutrality of the United states, and the loss of passenger liners like the Lusitania made conflict almost break out in 1915. It would not be until 1917, after the revelation of the infamous Zimmerman Telegram that showed German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman trying to incite Mexico to declare war on the United States, that American forces would be mobilized, and it would not be until the last year of the war that soldiers would be fighting in Europe. America would end the war with more deaths due to either illness, or noncombat related incidents than to direct combat, and it left the United States the only nation to come out of the First World War better than when it started.
Medal Name: Italian World War 1 Victory Medal
Date: 1915-1918
Country of Origin: Italy
Note: Italy did not actually begin the war as the other main powers did, and it actually began the conflict in the same Triple Alliance as Germany and the Austro- Hungarian Empire. While the war did not initially affect the people of Italy, the news of the carnage erupting across Europe horrified them, and it forced some to consider the weight of their allegiance, and to whom deserved it. Italy would eventually join the war against their former allies in the Triple Alliance in 1915, swayed by deals with Great Britain and France for land and compensation at the expense of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Italy would emerge from the Fist World War with more territory than it began, but the conflict would cost over five hundred thousand lives, with many more suffering from Shell Shock, Injuries suffered during combat, and Italy would suffer the largest percentage of casualties due to illness than any other nation involved.
Medal Name: French World War One Victory Medal
Date: 1914-1918
Country of Origin: French Republic
Note: The French Republic that emerged into the 20th century was strong, stretched from Africa to Asia, and its capitol was seen as an artistic beacon of the world. The Great War would hit the French especially hard, with battles frequently seeing causality figures go into the hundreds of thousands, and the eight month Battle for Verdun is still regarded as one of the most brutal, and terrifying battles in human history. France would end the First World War with a staggering loss of life, with over 1.4 million dead, and an additional 4 million wounded. Of all the french soldiers who fought during the war, roughly seven out of ten men became casualties.
Medal Name: French Combatants Cross
Date: December 19th, 1926-Present Day
Nation of Origin: French Republic
Note: The French Combatants Cross, or “Croix du combattant”, is a french merit cross awarded to those who have fought for France. The award initially was started as a “Combatant’s Card” after a law passed by the French Republic in 1926 distinguished those who fought on the front lines of the Great War, versus those who participated behind the front lines. Those who fought in during the Italian Wars, the Wars of German Succession, and other past colonial wars before the First World War would also receive access to the decoration and its perks a few year later. According to Wikipedia, this medal can also be awarded for receiving a wound in combat, being captured for up to ninety days by the enemy, or being mentioned in dispatches.
Medal Name: French Propaganda Cross
Date: 1914-1918
Nation of Origin: French Republic
Note: This is a very peculiar artifact, because it seems to be a mock Iron Cross, even sharing the distinctive W seen on the german medal representing Kaiser Wilhelm II. However, this cross was made by civilian french hands, and has inscribed on the arms of the cross the names of battles where the germans lost, or suffered high casualties, such as Amiens and Rheims. These crosses would have either been scattered by soldiers on the front lines, or dropped by pilots flying over the enemy trenches. This meant that these hunks of medal could potentially kill anyone they fell on, or at least seriously injure depending on the height dropped. The story of this particular cross is unknown, so one only knows what it may have see, or what happened to the one who made it.
Medal Name: Italian War Merit Cross
Date: January, 1918
nation of Origin: Italy
Notes: Born from then king of Italy Victor Emmanuel III in 1918, this medal was awarded to soldiers who served in combat against the enemy for at least one year, or fr those who received wounds as a result of their time in combat. The cross can also be awarded for those who received a promotion as a result of a mention in dispatches, and it was additionally warded to foreign service men who fought on behalf of Italy, such as Medal of Honor recipient Robert Blackwell, and future general Douglas MacArthur.
Medal Name: British 1914-1915 Star
Date: December 1918
Nation of Origin: British Empire
Note: This medal was awarded to any officer or enlisted man from across the empire who served in the British Army against the Central Powers from August 5th, 1914 through December 31st, 1915. Anyone who had already received the 1914 Star, also known as the “Mons Star”, were exempt from receiving this medal, and instead had their existing medal upgraded with a service pin. Unfortunately, the recipient’s name and relevant information has been scratched off the back of the medal (notice scratches towards the top of the medal). The medal was received into the collection with the damage already present, which leaves the intent behind the intentional removal of the recipients name a mystery.
Medal Name: British Special Constabulary Long Service Medal
Date: August 30th, 1919-1965
Nation of Origin: British Empire
Note: The “Special Constabulary Medal” was established by Royal Warrant in 1919 to recognize the service of members of the Special Constabulary during the Great War, and it would later recognize those who served for at least nine years in the Special Constabulary Service. This was a part time Volunteer service branch of the Statutory Police, and is activated during times of war, or severe crisis.
The medal in this collection is named for a “George Parkin”, who was one of the 559 recipients of this award.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
